By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 18 -- In the wake of the bombings in Damascus, the UN Security Council put off its vote on the UK-tabled Syria resolution for 19 hours, to Thursday morning. But when French Ambassador Gerard Araud was asked if he was optimistic, he said "no."
The issue as several non-Western Security Council members put it to Inner City Press is that the bomb-killing of Syria's Defense Minister changes things. One cynic asked, "So this bombing was done by defenseless people?"
Li Baodong of China told the Press the bombing was terrorist.
Another Council source opined to Inner City Press, until now the Obama administration was just trying to fend off the Republicans until the election in November. Now it might not last until then. Then the Free Syrian Army won't owe anything to the US, only to Saudi and Qatar.
Still another, referring to Inner City Press' story about plans to split Syria into three with Alawites taking the coast and Kurds another zone, said that scenario is getting closer.
As the Libya meeting of the Security Council broke up, July's Council president Nestor Osorio confirmed to Inner City Press that there will be a meeting of the Permanent Five members on Wednesday afternoon, while saying that the non Permanent or Elected Ten also have their role. Watch this site.
